9/7/09

This Labor Day, Lord,
I thank you for the world you have created
and that I, too, am the work of your hands:you formed my inmost being,you knit me in my mother's womb...

How can it be that you took the time, Lord,
before time was,
to imagine my being,
to consider even for a moment
that I would exist,
to conceive of me
before I was conceived?

And then from the love of two others you made
you fashioned me in your own image
and in theirs
and gave me a soul you had given no other
and breathed in me
the spirit of your own life...

How great are your works, O Lord,
and how grateful am I
that this life of mine
is the work of your hands...

Who am I that you should be mindful of me,
care for me,
that you should love me?
Yet you have crowned me with glory and honor:
your love is my crown,
your mercy my glory,
your grace my honor...

Without you, Lord, I am nothing;
without you,
I am not...

You created me, Lord,
and now I,
the work of your hands,
offer you
the work of my hands,
knowing full well that all that I have
was first your gift to me...

Every good thought of mine,
every imagined word, every work I dream,
every crafted gift I offer
is the work of your Spirit within me -
and yet you are pleased
when I lift up to you
what was yours to begin with...

On this Labor Day I offer you my work, Lord,
and pray you will accept it and know
that I am humbled to see
that my hands share in your work
and your hands share in mine...

And I offer you, Lord,
the plight of those who have no work
and those whose work is too much to bear:
lift up the jobless and lighten the load of weary...

Make me mindful, Lord,
of the ways you move in my life
through the work of all whose paths cross mine...

Good God of Monday mornings
and of every labored day,
I praise you for the work you have begun in me
and pray you will bring it to fulfillment...

Your words this Monday are so meaningful. God of Mondays and everyday help me to remember that the work that I do no matter how difficult is the work that you meant for me. Help me to remember that your yoke is not heavy and your burden is light. Help me to remember that I am Jesus' eyes, heart, ears, and hands for whomever I meet at work and everywhere each day of my life.

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic?

The best place to start is always one of your local Catholic churches. Drop in some Sunday and see what's going on. Then you might speak to the pastor or someone on the parish staff about how they can help you and respond to your questions.